- Eriksson revealed last month that he had been diagnosed with terminal cancer.
- Liverpool have confirmed that he will join their management team next month.
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Sven-Goran Eriksson will fulfill his dream of managing a Liverpool team after the club confirmed he would take part in the legends charity match next month.
The former England manager revealed last month that he has been secretly battling terminal cancer for a year and had previously only told family and close friends.
Following his announcement, he admitted that he was a Liverpool fan and had “always wanted to be the manager” of the Reds.
Liverpool confirmed today that they have given their advice to the 76-year-old, revealing that he will be part of the management team for the match on March 23.
The Reds in a statement said: We are delighted to confirm that Sven-Goran Eriksson will be part of the LFC Legends management team for the match against Ajax Legends at Anfield on March 23.
Liverpool have confirmed that Sven-Goran Eriksson will lead their team of legends in a charity match, fulfilling the former England manager’s dying wish.
Sven revealed last month that he was diagnosed with terminal cancer and has been secretly battling the disease for a year, having only told family and close friends.
The 76-year-old coach revealed in an interview that his dream was to manage Liverpool.
He will join Liverpool legends Ian Rush and John Barnes in the management team.
‘The former England manager will join the bench with LFC greats including Ian Rush, John Barnes and John Aldridge for the LFC Foundation’s annual charity match.
“Everyone connected with the club and the LFC Foundation looks forward to warmly welcoming LFC fan Sven and his family to Anfield, and seeing him in the dugout on the day, for a fantastic fundraising occasion.”
Among the former Liverpool players who have been confirmed to take part in the match is the 2005 Champions League hero. Jerzy Dudek, Martin Skrtel, Fabio Aurelio and Djibril Cisse, while former Reds and Ajax striker Ryan Babel will feature for both teams in the match. More legends will be announced in the coming weeks.
Sven told Good Morning Britain that his dream would be to take on a game in charge of his boyhood club and said he had been invited to watch the game.
When asked if he would accept the offer to manage the legends team, he said: “Of course I would accept, that has always been my dream.” But as if it were a dream.
‘I don’t complain that I had many good football teams, national teams and clubs. I’m happy anyway.’
Current Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp also gave his approval for Eriksson to have a role in next month’s legends match.
“I heard for the first time about his admiration or love for Liverpool and that he was a fan throughout his life,” Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said last month.
‘Now I heard about Legends (game) and stuff like that. I’m not in charge of that.
“The only thing I can say is that you are welcome to come here and you can sit in my seat in my office and do my job for a day if you want. That’s not a problem.
Eriksson managed England from 2001 to 2006; Liverpool star Steven Gerrard (left) was part of the famous ‘Golden Generation’ that reached the quarter-finals in three tournaments.
‘Being on the sidelines can be a little more difficult. Having him here and showing him everything and how this wonderful club has developed over the years, I think that’s definitely something we’ll tell him.
I’m sure you can come and spend some wonderful hours here.
Eriksson was the first foreign coach to coach England and was on the bench during their famous 5-1 victory over Germany in 2001.
He led the team to the quarterfinals of the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, as well as the 2004 Euro Cup.
During his managerial career, which spanned from 1977 to 2019, his greatest success came at Lazio, where he won the Serie A title, two Coppa Italias, the UEFA Super Cup and the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.
More to continue…